Trowbridge teenager wins over dragons

YOUNG Trowbridge entrepreneur Jordan Daykin said he never expected to get an investment in his business Grip It Fixings, after making a successful appearance on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den on Sunday.

The 19-year-old secured an offer of £80,000 for 25 per cent of his business from Deborah Meaden, after pitching his new plasterboard fixing design to the five multi-millionaire Dragons.

Mr Daykin, who left John of Gaunt School in Trow-bridge at the age of 13 to be tutored at home, came up with the idea for Grip it Fixings in 2008 while putting up curtain rails with his grandfather Stan, who helped design the prototype.

He applied to appear on the show in December last year, before getting a call for an interview in February, where he had to do a practice pitch in front of two of the producers. The filming for the show then took place in March.

Mr Daykin, who also set up two other businesses before Grip It, said: “I had to be there at 7am for the start of filming and there were four other people there who were also pitching ideas, but they don’t tell you when you are going on.

“Luckily, we had quite a big stand that we needed to set up ourselves and the only time we could do it was at lunch, so we knew we would be on after.

“I did the three-minute pitch and then we did some demonstrations.

“I was then in there for about two hours while the Dragons asked questions.

“Deborah Meaden said she had experienced problems herself with fixings and thought these could be ideal, so she said she had no option but to make an offer.

“Duncan Bannatyne said he could not beat her offer, while Piers Linney wanted to go in 50/50 with Deborah, but she said no.

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“I then asked her if she could meet me half way at 25 per cent and we agreed a deal.”

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Grip It Fixings, which is based in Hampton Park West, Melksham, was already stocked in Wickes before Mr Daykin went on the show, but he has since agreed a deal with Robert Dyas – owned by former Dragon Theo Paphitis.

Mr Daykin added: “I didn’t think I would get an investment as I thought they would want more than 25 per cent, but Deborah has been great since the show and keeps in touch every day.”

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